Where does “whistling” come from?
Whistling derives from Middle English whistlen, Old English hwistlan, Proto-Germanic hwistlōną, and Proto-Indo-European ḱwey-, a root of uncertain meaning expressing a sharp sound.
whistling (English): Present participle and gerund of whistle; A...
Definitions
- Present participle and gerund of whistle; A...
Ancestry of “whistling”, step by step
whistling traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English whistle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | whistle | A device designed to be placed in the mouth and... |
| 2 | Middle English | whistlen | — |
| 3 | Old English | hwistlan | — |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *hwistlōn | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hwistlōną | to whistle, hiss |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱweys- | to hiss, whistle, whisper |
via Middle English whistlinge
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | whistlinge | — |